Joan
Well-known member
It's clear he's got no definite answer to that question, but they keep asking it. And every single time, he says something different. Nothing wrong with him rating Maradona, Cruyff or someone else higher, though.
10 - Lionel Messi - V6
- Thread starter El Flaco
- Start date
soul24rage
Senior Member
We should always believe the opppsite of what Pele says 
10) China 2002
Pele Prediction:*China will qualify for the next round from their 2002 World Cup group.
Outcome:*China finish bottom of Group C with no wins, no draws, no points, no goals, as well as -9 in their goal-difference column.
9) Spain 1998
Pele Prediction:*Spain are favourites for the 1998 World Cup in France.
Outcome:*Spain humiliatingly dumped out in the first round after losing to Nigeria, and drawing with Paraguay.
8) Colombia To Live American Dream
Pele Prediction:*Colombia will win the 1994 World Cup in the USA.
Outcome:*Colombia exit the competition in the first round, finishing bottom of their group. Their defender Andres Escobar is also tragically shot dead by an angry fan after Colombia return home.
7) Argentina, France & World Cup 2002
Pele Prediction:*Argentina & France will both reach the final.
Outcome:*Both countries eliminated in the first round, France without even scoring a goal.
6) Escape To Victory
Pele Prediction:*During the famous film starring Sylvester Stallone and Michael Caine, Allies star Pele is brutally fouled in the first half by the Nazi opponents. The injured Brazilian claims there is no way he can continue and is carried off. The Allies are 4-0 down, and a recovery is deemed impossible.
Outcome:*Pele returns in the second half and inspires his team to an improbable comeback, even scoring a stunning bicycle kick. Even in fiction, Pele's predictions go wrong.
5) Ronaldo Is Finished
Pele Prediction:*Ronaldo will never play football again, and his career is over, following a serious injury for Milan in February 2008.
Outcome:*Ronaldo returns in March 2009 for Corinthians, scoring 10 goals in his first 14 games to win the Campeonato Paulista. Rumoured to be on the verge of a national team recall.
4) Nii Lamptey – ‘The New Pele’
Pele Prediction:*After starring in the 1991 Under-17 World Cup, which also featured Alessandro Del Piero, Pele proclaims Ghana youngster Lamptey as his successor, ‘The New Pele’.
Outcome:*What happens next goes down in football infamy. Lamptey spectacularly fails to fulfil his talent, believing himself that he was cursed by dark forces. The midfielder shifts around clubs such as PSV, Aston Villa, Coventry, Venezia and Ankaragucu without success.
3) Nicky Barmby - Up There With Zidane, Maldini & Ronaldo
Pele Prediction:*Nicky Barmby will become a world class star.
Outcome:*Nicky Barmby becomes nothing more than an average player, winning 23 England caps, and never even appearing in a World Cup.
2) Africa Will Rule
Pele Prediction:*An African nation will win the World Cup before the year 2000.
Outcome:*It is now 2009, and an African country has still yet to get past the quarter-final.
1) Brazil & World Cup 2002
Pele Prediction:*Brazil won’t even get past the group stages.
Outcome:*Brazil win the World Cup.
10) China 2002
Pele Prediction:*China will qualify for the next round from their 2002 World Cup group.
Outcome:*China finish bottom of Group C with no wins, no draws, no points, no goals, as well as -9 in their goal-difference column.
9) Spain 1998
Pele Prediction:*Spain are favourites for the 1998 World Cup in France.
Outcome:*Spain humiliatingly dumped out in the first round after losing to Nigeria, and drawing with Paraguay.
8) Colombia To Live American Dream
Pele Prediction:*Colombia will win the 1994 World Cup in the USA.
Outcome:*Colombia exit the competition in the first round, finishing bottom of their group. Their defender Andres Escobar is also tragically shot dead by an angry fan after Colombia return home.
7) Argentina, France & World Cup 2002
Pele Prediction:*Argentina & France will both reach the final.
Outcome:*Both countries eliminated in the first round, France without even scoring a goal.
6) Escape To Victory
Pele Prediction:*During the famous film starring Sylvester Stallone and Michael Caine, Allies star Pele is brutally fouled in the first half by the Nazi opponents. The injured Brazilian claims there is no way he can continue and is carried off. The Allies are 4-0 down, and a recovery is deemed impossible.
Outcome:*Pele returns in the second half and inspires his team to an improbable comeback, even scoring a stunning bicycle kick. Even in fiction, Pele's predictions go wrong.
5) Ronaldo Is Finished
Pele Prediction:*Ronaldo will never play football again, and his career is over, following a serious injury for Milan in February 2008.
Outcome:*Ronaldo returns in March 2009 for Corinthians, scoring 10 goals in his first 14 games to win the Campeonato Paulista. Rumoured to be on the verge of a national team recall.
4) Nii Lamptey – ‘The New Pele’
Pele Prediction:*After starring in the 1991 Under-17 World Cup, which also featured Alessandro Del Piero, Pele proclaims Ghana youngster Lamptey as his successor, ‘The New Pele’.
Outcome:*What happens next goes down in football infamy. Lamptey spectacularly fails to fulfil his talent, believing himself that he was cursed by dark forces. The midfielder shifts around clubs such as PSV, Aston Villa, Coventry, Venezia and Ankaragucu without success.
3) Nicky Barmby - Up There With Zidane, Maldini & Ronaldo
Pele Prediction:*Nicky Barmby will become a world class star.
Outcome:*Nicky Barmby becomes nothing more than an average player, winning 23 England caps, and never even appearing in a World Cup.
2) Africa Will Rule
Pele Prediction:*An African nation will win the World Cup before the year 2000.
Outcome:*It is now 2009, and an African country has still yet to get past the quarter-final.
1) Brazil & World Cup 2002
Pele Prediction:*Brazil won’t even get past the group stages.
Outcome:*Brazil win the World Cup.
Gnidrologist
Senior Member
Messigician
Senior Member
Throwback to when Maradona ended Pele's career
Maradona is still unimpressed by Pele’s opinion that Neymar is the best player in the world.
*
"I don't like comparisons with Pele because of the stupid things he says. He keeps on saying stupid stuff when he takes the wrong pills."
"This is maybe due to old age affecting his thought processes. You can't blame the guy, he hasn't been doing anything for the past 20 years. I haven't even seen him in a supermarket. I don't know what he does."
"Usually, when you see him these days, it's only at award ceremonies next to the president of FIFA and looking like a doll that's being moved by remote control.”
"The biggest and main difference between Pele and Maradona is I have the respect of all footballers, which Pele does not have. Pele is a friend of those who manage football. I am not friends with them. I am with the players.”
"In 2000, I won the Player of the Century award thanks to the people. Pele was second. He also came second behind Aryton Senna as Brazil's greatest sportsman. The award that FIFA gave Pele isn't worth sh*t."
"Pele should return to the museum."
After the Brazilian defended the use of the much-maligned Jabulani football at the 2010 World Cup, Maradona snipes that his foe is better suited to being a silent artifact than a talking head.
*
"He took the wrong pill. Instead of taking the pill for before bedtime, he took his morning pill. He got confused. I suggest that next time he takes the right medication and that he changes his doctor."
"Why would you compare me to Pele? My mother said I'm stronger and that he played with players who couldn't even move."
Pele’s opponents during the fifties and sixties weren’t the most athletic of specimens, according to*El Pibe.
*
"While presenting this year's Ballon d'Or to Cristiano Ronaldo, Pele uttered his name as 'Cristiano Leonardo'. This just shows where he belongs."
In the museum, Diego? Maradona reacts to Pele mispronouncing Cristiano Ronaldo's name at the 2014 Ballon d'Or ceremony in Zurich.
*
"My God, that is just stupid. Maybe Neymar is the best player in the world, but only if you say that Messi is from a different planet."
Maradona is still unimpressed by Pele’s opinion that Neymar is the best player in the world.
Maradona is still unimpressed by Pele’s opinion that Neymar is the best player in the world.
*
"I don't like comparisons with Pele because of the stupid things he says. He keeps on saying stupid stuff when he takes the wrong pills."
"This is maybe due to old age affecting his thought processes. You can't blame the guy, he hasn't been doing anything for the past 20 years. I haven't even seen him in a supermarket. I don't know what he does."
"Usually, when you see him these days, it's only at award ceremonies next to the president of FIFA and looking like a doll that's being moved by remote control.”
"The biggest and main difference between Pele and Maradona is I have the respect of all footballers, which Pele does not have. Pele is a friend of those who manage football. I am not friends with them. I am with the players.”
"In 2000, I won the Player of the Century award thanks to the people. Pele was second. He also came second behind Aryton Senna as Brazil's greatest sportsman. The award that FIFA gave Pele isn't worth sh*t."
"Pele should return to the museum."
After the Brazilian defended the use of the much-maligned Jabulani football at the 2010 World Cup, Maradona snipes that his foe is better suited to being a silent artifact than a talking head.
*
"He took the wrong pill. Instead of taking the pill for before bedtime, he took his morning pill. He got confused. I suggest that next time he takes the right medication and that he changes his doctor."
"Why would you compare me to Pele? My mother said I'm stronger and that he played with players who couldn't even move."
Pele’s opponents during the fifties and sixties weren’t the most athletic of specimens, according to*El Pibe.
*
"While presenting this year's Ballon d'Or to Cristiano Ronaldo, Pele uttered his name as 'Cristiano Leonardo'. This just shows where he belongs."
In the museum, Diego? Maradona reacts to Pele mispronouncing Cristiano Ronaldo's name at the 2014 Ballon d'Or ceremony in Zurich.
*
"My God, that is just stupid. Maybe Neymar is the best player in the world, but only if you say that Messi is from a different planet."
Maradona is still unimpressed by Pele’s opinion that Neymar is the best player in the world.
Luftstalag14
Culé de Celestial Empire
It is Pele expressing his opinion, I don't see what the fuss is about. Everyone is entitled his/her opinion.
And just because Pele thinks Messi is not the greatest ever, it doesn't give that opinion more or less weight than what the next guy thinks, in my opinion, despite the fact that he himself is one of the greatest football player ever. All opinions are subjective.
And just because Pele thinks Messi is not the greatest ever, it doesn't give that opinion more or less weight than what the next guy thinks, in my opinion, despite the fact that he himself is one of the greatest football player ever. All opinions are subjective.
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Gnidrologist
Senior Member
In an astonishing scientific breakthrough after long time misconception it would eventually be revealed that earth is in fact flat.
El Flaco
Active member
Yeah, Pele has always been quite daft and usually contradict himself often.
How the hell can respected legends of the game act like this 😂😂😂😂
therealkingleo
Banned
Lol pele just said that Cruyff and Beckenbauer were better players than Messi ever was. This man is pure comedy
Messigician
Senior Member
Unpredictable Pele
2012 : "Technically, Messi and I are practically at the same level.
March 2016 : "If I am the king, Messi is the prince. I'm not saying he is the king because my parents closed the factory and broke the mold. There is only one king."
May 2016 on best and his favourite player from past or present : “Messi is the one I like the most — he is the most complete."
June 2016 : "Cristiano is the best player in the world. But we can't compare myself and Diego with him because we were players who came from behind. We played deeper. He plays in front. He's more like R9."
September 2016 : "What has happened in the last 10 to 15 years, I think Messi is the player who was the most consistent all those years, no doubt. Cristiano is a good scorer, but to me as a player it is Messi."
June 2017 :
"The best player in the world? As I have mentioned, I think there is no doubt the best player, the best scorer and the best forward is Cristiano Ronaldo. I would always chose him in my team."
January 2018 :
"I would still stay with Messi. Scoring is important, no doubt, but if you do not have anyone to prepare, then the ball is not enough. For my team I prefer Messi.”
October 2018 : "Difficult to compare Messi and Ronaldo. Messi has a completely different style than Ronaldo. Ronaldo is more of a centre forward while Messi is more organised. If I had to chose one player for my team, I will chose Leo."
Few days ago on Messi vs him: "How can you make a comparison between a guy who heads, shoots with both legs and another who only shoots with one leg, only has one skill, doesn't head the ball well? 'Was Maradona better?' Yes, by a lot. Much better."
Never seen a bloke with so much inferiority complex than Pele. So hungry to downplay others and loves gassing himself to stay relevant. Flipping his opinions like Chameleon changes its colors. I don't mean to take away nothing from him as a player, but as an off field character, he is a salty insecure fella who can't accept superiority ahead of him. Pele kept attacking Diego and tried downplaying his own countrymen like Romario, Ronaldo and Dinho whenever they posed threat to his status in their playing days. Now he is doing exactly the same with Leo and Cristiano. Taking turns to change opinions on them aswell as reminding people they are not his level.
You don't see Micheal Jordan, Usain Bolt, Tiger Woods, Muhammad Ali, Tom Brady, Roger Federer, Michael Phelps, Sachin Tendulkar, etc pulling off these stunts. People respect humble personalities. Roberto Carlos gladly accepted Marcelo being better than him, Bergkamp accepted Ozil being better player than him, Laudrup accepted Iniesta being better than him, Hierro claimed Ramos and Pique as better defenders than him, Guadiolo proclaimed Busquets as being much superior than him, Cocky player like Cruyff accepted Messi as a better player than him at age 23 itself and so on and on. Pele is just becoming more irrelevant with his words day by day. At last Leo, Cristiano and Diego are superior players to him in terms of abilities. Bloke just has a pedigree of World Cup to claim from star studded Brazil team against them.
2012 : "Technically, Messi and I are practically at the same level.
March 2016 : "If I am the king, Messi is the prince. I'm not saying he is the king because my parents closed the factory and broke the mold. There is only one king."
May 2016 on best and his favourite player from past or present : “Messi is the one I like the most — he is the most complete."
June 2016 : "Cristiano is the best player in the world. But we can't compare myself and Diego with him because we were players who came from behind. We played deeper. He plays in front. He's more like R9."
September 2016 : "What has happened in the last 10 to 15 years, I think Messi is the player who was the most consistent all those years, no doubt. Cristiano is a good scorer, but to me as a player it is Messi."
June 2017 :
"The best player in the world? As I have mentioned, I think there is no doubt the best player, the best scorer and the best forward is Cristiano Ronaldo. I would always chose him in my team."
January 2018 :
"I would still stay with Messi. Scoring is important, no doubt, but if you do not have anyone to prepare, then the ball is not enough. For my team I prefer Messi.”
October 2018 : "Difficult to compare Messi and Ronaldo. Messi has a completely different style than Ronaldo. Ronaldo is more of a centre forward while Messi is more organised. If I had to chose one player for my team, I will chose Leo."
Few days ago on Messi vs him: "How can you make a comparison between a guy who heads, shoots with both legs and another who only shoots with one leg, only has one skill, doesn't head the ball well? 'Was Maradona better?' Yes, by a lot. Much better."
Never seen a bloke with so much inferiority complex than Pele. So hungry to downplay others and loves gassing himself to stay relevant. Flipping his opinions like Chameleon changes its colors. I don't mean to take away nothing from him as a player, but as an off field character, he is a salty insecure fella who can't accept superiority ahead of him. Pele kept attacking Diego and tried downplaying his own countrymen like Romario, Ronaldo and Dinho whenever they posed threat to his status in their playing days. Now he is doing exactly the same with Leo and Cristiano. Taking turns to change opinions on them aswell as reminding people they are not his level.
You don't see Micheal Jordan, Usain Bolt, Tiger Woods, Muhammad Ali, Tom Brady, Roger Federer, Michael Phelps, Sachin Tendulkar, etc pulling off these stunts. People respect humble personalities. Roberto Carlos gladly accepted Marcelo being better than him, Bergkamp accepted Ozil being better player than him, Laudrup accepted Iniesta being better than him, Hierro claimed Ramos and Pique as better defenders than him, Guadiolo proclaimed Busquets as being much superior than him, Cocky player like Cruyff accepted Messi as a better player than him at age 23 itself and so on and on. Pele is just becoming more irrelevant with his words day by day. At last Leo, Cristiano and Diego are superior players to him in terms of abilities. Bloke just has a pedigree of World Cup to claim from star studded Brazil team against them.
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